by MEMRI
Muslims have no choice but to reform their religion, rather than continuing to be "a burden on civilization."
In a June 29
interview with the Arab-Christian channel Al-Hayat TV,
Egyptian-Canadian journalist Said Shoaib called Al-Andalus a
"colonialist occupation" and added that it is very sad that the Muslims
"take pride in their colonialist crimes." Muslims, he said, have no
choice but to reform their religion, rather than continuing to be "a
burden on civilization." He pointed out that "our conflict with Israel
is mostly religious, otherwise we would be treating Iran the same way we
treat Israel," and added that "the reforms in the Jewish religion
improved it." He also criticized Egyptian media and public for refusing
to admit that the kidnapping and slaughter of Copts by jihadi terrorists
is based on religion.
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV"Our Conflict With Israel Is Mostly Religious"
Said Shoaib: "The Islamists and the Muslims are held captive by history. Our conflict with Israel is mostly religious."
Interviewer: "Absolutely."
Said Shoaib: "Otherwise,
we would be treating Iran the same way we treat Israel. Iran is
occupying the Arab region of Ahwaz and oppressing the Sunnis, and it is
occupying the UAE islands. Turkey is occupying the Alexandretta
province. Is there one occupation that is halal and another that is haram?"
Interviewer: "In Morocco, we also have two cities that we consider to be occupied by Spain."
"We Consider Al-Andalus To Be A Source Of Pride For The Muslims" – But It Was "A Colonial Occupation"
Said Shoaib: "But
nobody cares. They only care about Israel, because the Prophet Muhammad
engaged in a political armed and unarmed conflict [with the Jews] 1,400
years ago, and we act as if it happened today. There is another
upsetting paradox. We consider Al-Andalus to be a source of pride for
the Muslims, although it was, in fact, a colonialist occupation."
Interviewer: "Of course."
Said Shoaib: "We
should wash our hands of that aspect. There was scientific and cultural
progress there, but as a matter of principle [it was occupation] and we
Muslims should be fair about it."
Interviewer: "You won't hear France saying today with pride: 'remember how we occupied Algeria and Morocco? Those were the days...'"
Said Shoaib: "Nobody
says that except for the Muslims, and this is very sad. The Muslims are
the only ones who take pride in their colonialist crimes."
Interviewer: "Because it is a religious matter. They consider this to be sacred."
Said Shoaib: "If
you are so proud of the occupation of Al-Andalus, why are you angry at
Israel? This is very strange. I once interviewed [former MB Supreme
Guide] Mahdi Akef. It was the famous interview in which he said: 'To
hell with Egypt.' I mentioned to him that the Ottomans had been
occupiers [in Egypt]. 'Occupiers?' he was bewildered and hit the table.
'They were Muslims! Muslims cannot occupy Muslims.' Of course Muslims
can be occupiers. The Ottomans destroyed the entire region."
Interviewer: "Sure there can be occupation. What was Iraq doing in Kuwait? Dropping in for breakfast?"
"The Reforms In The Jewish Religion Improved It"
Said Shoaib: "It's insane. The Muslims are the only ones who want to restore their colonialist empire.
[...]
"The reforms
in the Jewish religion improved it. The most important aspect of this
was that they abandoned the textual understanding of the religion."
[...]
Muslims Have No Choice But To Reform – "Better Late Than Never" – They Cannot "Continue Being A Burden On... Civilization"
Interviewer: "Don't
you think that it's too late [for the Muslims], because generations and
generations were raised on this? People blow themselves up and kill
people in Manchester and in Paris – there is nothing to be done. The
cancer has spread. Isn't it too late? Even in the West, in some Western
countries, perhaps the time for reforms is gone..."
Said Shoaib: "First
of all, you must know the saying 'better late than never.' Second, what
choice do we Muslims have? To continue being a burden on the world, on
human civilization? I feel that Muslims I know personally – I'm not
talking about the Islamists – are upset. They are not pleased. They are
angry. My mother is upset. She's not happy."
Interviewer: "Most people just want to live in peace."
Said Shoaib: "Of course, and we must provide them with solutions."
[...]
"The Religious Conflicts Will Continue... People Refuse To Admit That The Kidnapping And Slaughter Of Copts Is Motivated By Religion"
Interviewer: "What do you think will happen in the Middle East? Will it come to an explosion? Will we go on like this?"
Said Shoaib: "The
religious conflicts will continue. One of the things that saddens me in
Egypt is that people refuse to admit that the kidnapping and slaughter
of Copts is motivated by religion. Even now, the public mind is closed.
Even my friends and colleagues, who are senior journalists and excellent
people, refuse to admit it. Christians in Egypt are being killed on the
basis of religion. Why is that?"
View The Clip
MEMRI
Source: https://www.memri.org/tv/egyptian-canadian-journalist-muslims-proud-of-colonialist-occupation-al-andalus
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